Where'd Everyone Go?
27. september 2018, Kina ⋅ 61 °F
As we were going into the Wanda Realm Mall we saw a free concert happening in this courtyard with lots of people around, but now the area is completely empty. I'm very surprised that a city as big asLes mer
Good Night, Beijing!
27. september 2018, Kina ⋅ 61 °F
We didn't see anyone from our tour group lingering in the lobby so we went straight up to our room. It was just as well because we're both feeling so tired. I hope that we sleep well because I'm sureLes mer
Good Morning!
28. september 2018, Kina ⋅ 55 °F
It's a new day here in Beijing and, once again, the weather looks fantastic. We both slept well and feel very rested but now it's time to get up and get ready for another day of touring China. I'mLes mer
Time for Breakfast
28. september 2018, Kina ⋅ 55 °F
The buffet for breakfast was almost exactly the same as what we had yesterday. Kathy was able to enjoy a good breakfast while I stayed with my buttered toast. I would have liked something more butLes mer
Kathy
28. september 2018, Kina ⋅ 55 °F
We saw a few people from our tour group scattered around the buffet. I'm kind of surprised that all of us are sitting separately instead of having breakfast together. I guess that everyone is stillLes mer
In the Lobby
28. september 2018, Kina ⋅ 57 °F
We're all supposed to be meeting in the hotel lobby after breakfast but, so far, we're the only ones here. We're a bit early but we really expected to see at least a few of the others. I guess thatLes mer
Let's Go!
28. september 2018, Kina ⋅ 57 °F
As we expected, everyone seemed to get there at the last minute. We're on the bus now, ready to see more of China. This is our last full day in Beijing so let's make it count. We're going to be seeingLes mer
Jade Craftsman
28. september 2018, Kina ⋅ 61 °F
On the way to the Great Wall we stopped at the Jade Factory to learn about jade and see how it's crafted into different shapes. Kathy wanted to get a jade bracelet for her friend, Michelle, but theLes mer
The Great Wall
28. september 2018, Kina
It was a long drive, with a lot of traffic, but we finally made it to the Great Wall. This is a bucket list place for both of us so we're very happy and excited to be here. I'm so eager to startLes mer
Some Great Wall Facts
28. september 2018, Kina
The Great Wall is not a continuous line: there are side walls, circular walls, parallel walls, and sections with no wall. In those areas, high mountains or rivers form a barrier instead. In the QinLes mer
Ready to Climb
28. september 2018, Kina
Kathy is so excited to be here at the Great Wall. She's determined to make it all the way to the top. I want to do it too but I wasn't expecting the steps to be so steep. I'm not sure that I'll beLes mer
The Great Wall
28. september 2018, Kina
I still can't believe that we're really here! I've learned about the Great Wall in school, seen it in movies and read about it in National Geographic. Now, I'm actually here and seeing it for myself!Les mer
Interesting Legends
28. september 2018, Kina
There are so many stories and legends about the Great Wall. One of the most popular is about Meng Jiangnv, whose husband died building the Wall. Her weeping was so bitter that a section of the WallLes mer
A Long Climb
28. september 2018, Kina
The steps to climb the Great Wall are much more steep and uneven than I had expected. As much as I wanted to make the trip to the top, I think that it's beyond my limits. I wasn't the only one,Les mer
Going Up
28. september 2018, Kina
Our tour guide, Lisa, let everyone wander around on their own but gave us a time limit. She warned us that if we wanted to climb to the top of the Great Wall we should leave now. Kathy, and a fewLes mer
Climbing
28. september 2018, Kina
Kathy's going up the Wall very quickly! I wonder how long she'll be able to keep up that pace. I'm very confident that she'll make it to the top though. She's determined!
Exploring the Great Wall
28. september 2018, Kina
While Kathy was climbing the Wall, I was exploring the ground level area. Even without climbing, there's so much for me to see here. I'm going to be getting some great pictures of the Wall!
It Goes On and On
28. september 2018, Kina
I couldn't even imagine starting such a huge project. The wall goes on as far as I can see and it's so thick and strong. The amount of people working on this must have been incredible!
The Way Up
28. september 2018, Kina
I'm not sure how long it's going to take Kathy to make it to the top but one thing that I'm sure of is that she'll make it. She's in great shape and very determined. I wonder how many others from ourLes mer
Shooting Legos
28. september 2018, Kina
While Kathy was doing her climb on the wall I decided to do a photo shoot with some of the Lego minifigures. This was a lot more fun and interesting than just sitting on a bench and waiting for her toLes mer
The Great Wall
28. september 2018, Kina
In between my Lego shots, I was still taking pictures of the Great Wall, trying to get every view and angle that I could think of. I'm still feeling amazed that we're actually here!
Guard Duty
28. september 2018, Kina
Shooting the Lego minifigures is always fun but doing on location photoshoots in exotic locations, like this, is something very new to me. I'm loving it! I think that this one was my best shot of theLes mer
It Goes On and On
28. september 2018, Kina
The Great Wall goes on and on, as far as I could see. Even though I'm here looking at it, it's hard to imagine anything being this big. The amount of work it took to create the wall must have beenLes mer
Walking the Wall
28. september 2018, Kina
The scenery in these Lego shots is amazing! I wish I could have gotten shots like this yesterday at the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven but our tour guide, Lisa, seemed to be rushing usLes mer
Guard Tower
28. september 2018, Kina
These old guard towers look fantastic! I would have loved to go inside and look around but, unfortunately, the doors were all locked. I wish that they didn't have the speakers, or cameras, or whateverLes mer